Murdering the Roses (A Heavenly Highland Inn Cozy Mystery) by Cindy Bell Page B

police cruiser. All of the officers were now congregated in the parking lot of the inn.
    “Of course we do,” Aunt Ida said as she furrowed one perfectly thin eyebrow. “We were there you know. I bet you don't even know that youngster threatened to kill me, and,” she gasped and lowered her voice. “He called me an old lady!” She pursed her lips and tilted her chin upward, then cast her gaze towards the sheriff as if she was a fashion model. “Now, do I look old to you Sheriff McDonnell?” she asked.
    The s heriff looked a little flustered to have her attention lavished on him in such a way. “Ah well, no, you don't Ida, not at all. Just as beautiful as you've always been, I have to say,” his ruddy cheeks grew redder with blush as he glanced away. Despite the fact that Vicky had just been through one of the most terrifying experiences of her life, she couldn't help but smile at her Aunt’s antics. She was the ultimate flirt, and could charm any man that set eyes on her.
    “ Vicky!” Mitchell came running up to her and without thought to the fact that Sheriff McDonnell was watching him, he threw his arms around her waist and drew her close to him. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?” he stared so deeply into her eyes that Vicky was more than a little taken back.
    “I'm fine,” she assured him as her heart fluttered slightly and she began to feel comforted by his muscular arms around her. “Thanks to you, of course.”
    “I'm sorry,” he said, suddenly recalling his role as a deputy sheriff. He reluctantly released her and stepped away with an apologetic frown. “I should have answered when you called, I wish I would have, and then maybe none of this would have happened.”
    “That was my fault,” Sheriff McDonnell said sternly. “I ordered him not to answer the phone because I thought you would distract him.”
    Vicky narrowed her eyes at the sheriff. Although he was finally there when they needed him, she still wasn't a fan.
    “Well maybe instead of being so worried about how distracting I might be, you should have paid closer attention to what a fantastic deputy sheriff you have,” she said sternly. “If it wasn't for him finally answering the phone, Aunt Ida and I would probably still be in big trouble.”
    Sheriff McDonnell nodded remorsefully. He stopped short of apologizing, but the look in his eyes showed he knew that he had made a mistake.
    “He is a very fine deputy,” he admitted with a hint of pride in his voice. “Do you two have any idea what these two men were after?” he asked darkly.
    “No!” Aunt Ida whistled as she tucked her hands into the pockets of her jacket to hide the money she still had stashed there.
    “Yes,” Vicky countered, offering her aunt a scathing glare. “Aunt Ida, we have to tell them the truth.”
    Ida scowled, but nodded in agreement.
    “There's a box in the truck,” Vicky explained with a sigh. “We dug it up from the garden. Inside I believe you will find the missing money from whatever crime Bob committed.”
    “It turns out Bob was a cell mate of one of the twins,” the sheriff replied as some of the officers went to the truck to begin inspecting the box and its contents. “That is why he had the same tattoo as Bob. It's a prison tattoo. Only one twin has it.”
    “Ma'am, could you please empty your pockets,” one of the officers asked Aunt Ida in the most respectful tone he could muster.
    Aunt Ida sighed and nodded reluctantly. “I was just keeping it safe,” she smiled sweetly as she handed over the stacks of money to the officers.
    Vicky smiled affectionately as she shook her head at her Aunt. She also watched to make sure all of the stacks of money were returned.
    “You two were amazing,” Mitchell said with genuine astonishment. “You cracked the case. If it were not for you, we might never have caught these two, and they could be off living on the stolen money.”
    “No, they were not amazing,” the sheriff corrected with a fierce